.More than 1,100 soldiers, including 800 French legionnaires as well as US and Afghan commandos, launched a major operation east of the Afghan capital Kabul, military officials said.
Five US special forces soldiers were wounded in the fighting in the Uzbeen Valley, a Taliban stronghold where 10 French soldiers were killed in an ambush in August 2008, the officials said.
It was one of the biggest military deployments by the French army in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.
The operation, codenamed Septentrion, was aimed at “reaffirming the sovereignty of Afghan security forces in the north of the Uzbeen Valley,” Colonel Benoit Durieux of the French Foreign Legion said. .
An official said three of the Americans were seriously wounded, and that the injured had been evacuated by helicopter to the nearby Bagram air base.
At least one militant was killed and three wounded in the fighting, Lieutenant-Colonel Herve Wallerand, who led the operation, said. Another one had his artery cut,” a US special forces officer at camp Rocco, the army’s advance outpost in the valley said. Jets also hit Taliban positions.
Attacked by the insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and heavy machine gun fire, the French troops responded with shells, backed up by French and US attack helicopters.
US President Barack Obama has pledged an extra 30,000 troops to bolster an international force of 113,000 already fighting a Taliban-led insurgency that has become more virulent and deadly over the past year.
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A free ambulance service is available in Bali where a New Zealander died in his hotel room after a bar brawl, officials say.
Sean Headifen, 22, died from head and internal injuries after a fight with nightclub staff early on Sunday.
However, officials at the Indonesian Embassy said yesterday that the island ran a free emergency ambulance service. .
“It’s provided by the hospital and local government for emergencies. “There is one for the public,” embassy first secretary Tri Purnajaya said. It’s not as efficient as the ones you have in New Zealand.
“If I were injured, I would call the same number and expect them to arrive. There are so many people and we have traffic jams. You don’t have as many people to cater for. He was attacked in the Bounty bar in Kuta about 1.”
Sarah Whitburn, Mr Headifen’s 19-year-old girlfriend, tried to stop the brawl by jumping on the shoulders of one of the men attacking him.
The Palmerston North man died about 6.30am on Sunday. When Miss Whitburn phoned an ambulance, she says she was asked for $400.30am in his room at Sari Yasa Samudra Bungalows. They were in custody.
Bali police Captain Dody Prawera said three men a bartender and two security staff aged 29, 20 and 34 were arrested and charged over the death.
Mr Prawera said Mr Headifen became agitated when a drink discount coupon was refused, threw a glass and was then attacked by security staff. The security staff faced 12 years in prison if convicted and the barman faced seven years.
But his friend, Matt Dempsey, who has talked to Miss Whitburn from Palmerston North, said Mr Headifen had been defending himself after knocking over a drink. The bartender also threw a glass, which struck Mr Headifen’s head. “She actually jumped on top of one of the men,” Mr Dempsey said.
Miss Whitburn tried to stop the fight and suffered a sprained wrist, and bruises to her face and body.
An autopsy revealed he died of head and internal injuries.
An autopsy revealed he died of head and internal injuries.
Miss Whitburn is expected to leave Bali today and arrive in New Zealand tomorrow. Arrangements are still being made to bring Mr Headifen’s body home.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has sent a staff member from Jakarta to Bali to liaise with police and offer support.
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Read them’s report Sarkozy pushes business during surprise Baghdad visit
them with wires – French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Wednesday that discussions with Kuwait for the potential purchase of 14 to 28 French Rafale combat aircraft by the Gulf kingdom could be completed before the end of 2009.
At a press conference in Kuwait City, the French president said that discussions were progressing and were already quite advanced.
On Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy proposed to the Oman Sultanate to replace its twenty Franco-British Jaguar fighter-jets with the Rafale assault planes.
The officer and his interpreter died earlier Wednesday in a battle that erupted when their patrol was hit by a home-made landmine, the French military and Afghan officials said. .
diplomacy – France – Iraq – Nicolas Sarkozy – Oman